Pleasure-railway.



H. A. LOGKWOOD.

PLEASURE RAILWAY.

APPLICATION FILED oer. 6, 1913.

1 ,097,452. Patented May 19, 1914.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

WITNE SE5: [/VVLNTOR.

60 M fi'a ATTORNEY.

' COLUMBIA PMNOGRAPM co. WASHINGTON. D. c.

Patented May 19, 1914.

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H. A. LUCKWOOD.

PLEASURE RAILWAY. APPLICATION FILED 00w. 6, 1913.

1,097,452. Patented May 19, 1914.

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7 I: O o 2L :4 Q o o k w E l R Q3 0000 000000 H o o a Q m 0 WITNESSES: INVENTOR. ,g R a &5 ATTORNEY.

COLUMBIA PLANDURAPH co.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

H. A. LOGKWOOD.

PLEASURE RAILWAY.

APPLICATION FILED OGT.6,1913.

1,097,452. I Patented May 19,1914. 5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO wAsmNu'roN. D. c.

H. A. LOGKWOOD.

PLEASURE RAILWAY.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 6, 1913.

Patented May 19, 1914.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co.. WASHINGTON. u. c.

HORACE A. LOCKWOOID, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

PLEASURE-RAILWAY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 19, 1914.

Application filed October 6, 1913. Serial No. 793,548.

To aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, HORACE A. LocKwooD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Pleasure-Railways, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in pleasure railways.

It relates particularly to a pleasure railway in which cars are propelled along a spiral track by means of a revoluble boom, in a manner similar to what is illustrated in Letters Patent issued to me Jan. 21, 1908, N 0. 877,100, and Sept. 30,1913,N0.1,074.,185.

My present invention is an improvement upon those described in the aforesaid Letters Patent.

One feature of my invention is the provision of a centrally supported boom, with oppositely extending guides disposed at opposite sides of the aXis of the boom, whereby the capacity for pushing cars along the track is increased, the two arms of the boom balancing one another.

Another feature of my improvement is the employment of a central stationary tower of novel construction upon which the boom is revolubly mounted.

Another feature of my present invention resides in the novel construction of the boom, whereby great strength is afl orded and capability of resisting lateral strains is obtained.

Another feature of my invention. is the provision of novel means for the initial engagement of the cars by the boom construction.

A further improvement consists in the provision of cushioning means provided on each car for the avoidance of shocks or jolting in case one of the cars is run against another in advance thereof.

Other features of my invention are hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the preferred form of my inven tionFigu1-e 1 is a plan view of the track and car propelling mechanism. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the track supporting structure. tional view of the bowl or saucer-shaped structure which supports the track along which the cars are propelled by a revolving boom, the latter and other mechanism adjacent thereto being shown, the section be- Fig. 3 is an enlarged, vertical secing taken on the line a.b of Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the boom, taken on the curved line cd of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the small bowl or saucer-shaped structure, taken on the line e-f of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is an en larged, fragmental vertical sectional view of a portion of the boom and supporting tower, taken on the vertical plane of the line a?) of Fig. 1.. Fig. 7 is an enlarged, fragmental, vertical sectional view of the upper end of the tower and a portion of the middle of the boom. Fig. 8 is a cross section of the boom, taken on the line '(/--]L of Fig. 3. Fig. 9 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the boom and tower and one of the car engaging devices carried by the boom, the latter being shown above its lowermost position. Fig. 10 is an enlarged cross section on the line i-j of Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is an enlarged cross section on the line 7.: Z of Fig. 9. Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view, enlarged, on the line vat-n of Fig. 11. Fig. 18 is a side elevation of one of the cars, a portion of the side guard carried thereby being broken away. Fig. 1 1 is an enlarged View, showing a portion of the track in cross section and a rear elevation of one of the cars. Fig. 15 is a fragmental, horizontal sectional view of a portion of one of the cars, taken on the line 0 7) of Fig. 13. Fig. 1.6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view on the line Q-w of Fig. 1 1.

Similar reference characters designate similar parts in the different views.

The endless track, as in the inventions hereinbefore referred to, preferably comprises two volute spiral portions, 1 and 2, a spiral portion 3 which connects the upper ends of the spirals 1 and 2; a circular spiral portion 4;, the upper end of which connects with the lower end of the spiral 1; and a portion 5, having an intermediate, horizontal landing portion (3, and having its ends connected respectively to the lower end of the spiral 2, and to the lower end of the spiral portion 4, which is of helical form. Preferably the convolutions of the spirals 1 and 2, run in opposite directions, and the connecting portions, 3 and 5, cross each other. The spirals, 1 and 2, are respectively mounted on two saucer or bowl-shaped supports, 7 and 8, having central vertical openings 10, and mounted each upon a suitable framework The track ails 11 support carrying wheels 12, with which each car 13 is provided. At each side of the track, see Fig. 14, are upstanding guards 14, against which are adapted to bear rollers 15, provided on each side of each car.

An axial support, comprising, preferably, a tower 16, extends through the opening 10 of the bowl support 7, the lower end of the tower being supported upon and anchored to a concrete base 17, as shown in F ig, 3.

Revolubly mounted upon the tower 16, is a bow-shaped boom 18, which, as shown in Fig. 8, is, in cross section, a right-angled triangular frame with the base of the triangle at the top and horizontally disposed, and which at opposite sides of the tower is provided with curved guides 19, which are provided with fiat vertical faces, disposed, preferably, parallel with and at opposite sides of a vertical plane st, which longitudinally intersects the axis of the boom 18, Fig. 4. The boom 18 is preferably built up of structural steel, and, as shown in Fig. 6, has secured to its lower side a bearing ring 20, which is supported by and levoluble upon a bearing rin 21, which is secured horizontally to the tower 16, at a point intermediate the ends thereof.

A vertical shaft 22, extends axially through the boom 18 and the tower 16, Fig. 3, and Fig. 7, the upper end of the shaft being keyed or otherwise rigidly secured to a block 23, which is secured to the upper side and middle of the boom 18. The shaft 22 is rotatably mounted in a bearing block 24 which is provided at the top and forms a part of the tower 16. The lower end of the shaft 22 is rotatably mounted in a plate 25, which rests upon the concrete base 17.

Secured to the shaft 22, near the lower end thereof, is a bevel gear wheel 26, Fig. 3, which meshes with a bevel gear wheel 27, secured to a horizontal driving shaft 28, which is connected by gearing 29 with a suitable engine or motor 30.

For the purpose of propelling the cars along the circular central portion 4, the following described mechanism is provided The boom 18, at opposite sides of the tower 16, is provided, Fig. 3, with two depending guides 31, upon which are respectively vertically movable, two car engaging devices which will be hereinafter described. The guides 31 are alike in construction and comprise each, as is shown in Figs. 9 to 12, vertical I beam 32, the upper end of which is secured to the boom 18. Secured to the I beam 32 is a vertical channel beam 33, to the flanges of which are respectively secured two angle bars 34 which, with the channel beam 33, form a vertical runway in which is mounted a block 35, Fig. 10, to which is secured a vertical plate 36, to the opposite side of which is secured, by U-bolts 37, a horizontal tube 38, in which is slidably mounted a projecting bar 39, which is adapted to engage and propel any one of the cars 13. One end of the tube 38 is provided with a cap 40, against which bears one end of a coil spring 41, mounted in the tube 38, and having its other end bearing against the inner end of the bar 39. Secured to the bar 39 is a transverse pin 42, which is slidably mounted in a longitudinal slot 43, provided in the outer side of the tube 38, see Figs. 9 and 10.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that the car engaging mechanism, which includes the bar 39, is free to move vertically upon the guide 31, and that the bar 39, if it accidentally strikes endwise against the car, is adapted to be forced inwardly against the pressure of the coil spring 41, which normally holds the bar 39 in the proper position for engagement with a car.

In order that yielding means may be afforded for cushioning the fall of the above described car engaging device, when it is permit-ted to move downwardly on the guide 31, there is provided between the vertical angle bars 34, a vertically movable horizontal plate 44, Figs. 9 to 11, which rests upon vertical coil springs 45, respectively encircling vertical guiding bolts 46, and supported upon a transverse angle bar 47, provided with vertical holes in which the guide bolts 46 are vertically slidable. lVhen the car engaging device falls down the guide 31 the plate 35 strikes against the spring supported plate 44, which yieldingly checks the fall of the said device.

If desired, friction rollers 48, may be mounted between and carried by the plates 35 and 36, said friction rollers being adapted to bear respectively against the adjacent edges of the angle bars 34, as shown in Fig. 10.

Upon one side of each car 13, near the rear end thereof, is secured a bearing plate 49, see Figs. 13, 14 and 15, in which is rigidly secured a horizontal tube 50, having slidably mounted therein and extending rearwardly through its rear end, a bar 51, against the rear end of which is adapted to bear the bar 39 of either one of the car engaging devices hereinbefore described. A coil spring 52, is mounted in the tube 50 and has one end bearing against the inner end of the bar 51, its other end bearing against a cap 53, which is secured to and closes the forward end of the tube 50. The tube 50 is provided with a longitudinal slot 54, in which is slidably mounted a pin 55, which is secured to the bar 51.

To prevent the push bar 39 damaging the car in case that the car has not been properly positioned in time for one of the bars 39, in the revolving movement of the boom 18, to strike against the bar 51, I provide a longitudinal angle bar 56, which is secured to one side of the car 13, in a position for receiving the impact of the bar 39.

F or the purpose of supporting the car engaging device in proper position for the push bar 39, to engage with and keep in engagement with the bar 51, the guard 14 at the inner side of the circular track at, is of a height such that the bar 39 will, when resting thereon, as shown in Fig. 3, be in position to bear against the outer end of the rod 51.

When the boom 18 is revolved by means of the engine or motor 30, and the gearing and shafting connected therewith, the guides 31 will carry the ear engaging devices, having the push bars 39, into positions in which the bars 39 will alternately engage and travel along the upper edge of the innermost helical guide 1 1, of the portion 4 of the tack. If a car has been pushed, into position on the track 41, for the engagement of its bar 51, with the bar 39, the latter bar wilLtravel along the upper edge of the adjacent guide 14:, and will push the car along the helical track 41 to a position in which the car will pass from the track 4 and run upon the spiral track 1. At this time the car engaging device, which has been pushing the car, will arrive at a position in which the bar 39 will pass from the upper end of the guide 1-1 which has supported it. The car engaging device being unsupported, will then fall by gravity upon the plate 4A, which is carried by the springs 4-5, where it will remain until, in the continued revolution of the boom 18, again ride upon the supporting guide 14, as herein before described. Then the car has reached the lower end of the spiral 1, and has been released from the bar 39 of the car engaging device, which has propelled the car to this position, the adjacent guide 19 of the boom 18 will come into contact with a friction roller 57, which is mounted upon the upper end of an upstanding bar 58, which is secured by clamping plates 59 to the rear end of the car. As the boom 18 continues its revolution the guide 19 will, by its engagement with the roller 57, propel the car along the spiral track 1 until the car reaches the upper end of said spiral portion and passes upon the connecting track portion 3, at which time it will be propelled at an accelerated speed and will pass from engagement with the guide 19 of the boom and upon the track portion 3 to the spiral portion 2, which spiral portion it will travel downwardly upon until it enters the horizontal connecting portion 5, where it will be stopped by means of a suitable track brake 60, located in the horizontal portion 6 of the track 5. Here the car may be unloaded. and loaded and then again pushed into a position for engagement with the bar 39 of one of the car engaging devices,

already described.

To prevent shock in case that a car accidentally strikes against a car in front of it, each car, as shown in Fig. 15, is provided with a horizontal, rearwardly extending bar 61, which is slidably mounted in a horizontal tube 62, supported by a plate 63, secured to the body of the car. The inner end of the bar 61 bears against a coil spring 641, mounted in the tube 62 and bear ing at its forward end against a cap 65, secured upon the forward end of the tube 62. The bar 61 is provided with a transverse pin 66 which is slidably mounted in a longitudinal slot- 67, with which the tube (32 is provided.

To enable the cars 13 to have their carrying wheels 12 readily follow the track, these wheels may be each rotatably mounted in a plate 68, Fig. 1G, pivoted at its forward end to a vertical bolt 69 which extends through and is fastened to a wheel housing '70. which is secured to the body of the car.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a railway, a spiral track, and a revoluble boom the axis of which is the axis of said track and which is provided at opposite sides of said axis with means for engaging cars and propelling them along said track.

2. In a railway, a spiral track, and a centrally supported revoluble boom the axis of which is the axis of said track and which is provided at opposite sides of said axis with means for engaging cars and propelling them along said track.

3. In a railway, a support having a saucer shaped upper surface, a spiral track carried on said upper surface, and a revoluble boom the axis of which is the axis of said track and which has two car engaging and pro pelling guides disposed at opposite sides of said axis above and parallel with said surface.

4. In a car propelling apparatus, a revo luble boom having a vertical axis and pro vided with two car engaging and propelling guides disposed at opposite sides of said axis and at opposite sides of and parallel with a vertical plane intersecting said axis.

5. In a railway, a spiral track, and a revoluble boom having an axis the axis of said track and provided with two car engaging and propelling guides disposed at opposite sides of said axis and at opposite sides of and parallel with a vertical plane intersecting longitudinally said axis.

6. In a railway, a track having a circular portion and a spiral portion connected thereto, a revoluble boom having a guide for en gaging and propelling cars along the spiral portion of the track, and a vertically movable device carried by the boom and having means for engaging cars and propelling them along said circular portion of the track.

7. In a railway, a track having a circular portion and a spiral portion connected thereto, a revoluble boom having as its axis the axis of the track and provided with two guides at opposite sides of said axis for propelling cars along said spiral portion, and vertically movable means carried by said boom for engaging and propelling cars along said circular portion.

8. In a car propelling apparatus, a revoluble boom having a laterally extending guide for engaging and propelling cars, and provided with a vertical guide, and a device vertically movable in said vertical guide and having means for engaging and propelling cars.

9. In a car propelling apparatus, a revoluble boom having a vertical axis and pro vided at opposite sides of said axis with guides for engaging and propelling cars, and vertically movable means carried by said boom for engaging and propelling said cars prior to their engagement with said guides.

10. In a railway, a revoluble boom having a vertical axis, a track encircling the axis of said boom, and vertically movable means carried by the boom for engaging a car and propelling it along said track.

11. In a railway, a revoluble boom having a vertical axis, a helical track and supi zport encircling said axis, and a vertically movable car engaging and propelling device propelled by the boom and adapted to travel upon said support.

12. In a railway, a revoluble boom having a vertical axis, a helical track and support encircling said axis, and a car engaging and propelling device vertlcally slidably engaging said boom and adapted to be propelled along said support by said boom.

I 1 13. In a railway, a. track having a helical portion and an involute spiral portion connected with the helical portion, a revoluble boom the axis of which is the axis of said track, a helical support concentric with said helical portion, and means propelled by the boom and adapted to travel on said support'for propelling cars along said helical portion, the boom being provided with means for propelling cars along said spiral portion.

14. In a car propelling apparatus, an axial support, and a boom supported by and revoluble on said axial support and provided at opposite sides of said support with two laterally and upwardly extending guides for engaging and propelling cars.

15. In a car propelling apparatus, a tower, a boom supported by and revoluble on said tower and having means at opposite sides of said tower for engaging and propelling cars.

16. In a car propelling apparatus, a vertical support having intermediate of its ends a bearing, and a boom revoluble around said support and supported by said bearing and having means at opposite sides of said support for engaging and propelling cars,

11 In a railway, a tower, a track enclrcling said tower, and a boom revoluble on and supported by the tower and having means for engaging and propelling cars along said track.

18. In a railway, a tower, a track encircling said tower, and a boom revoluble on and supported by the tower and having at opposite sides of said tower means for engaging and propelling cars along said track.

19. In a railway, a tower having a bearing intermediate of its ends, a track encircling the tower, and a boom revoluble on said tower and supported by said bearing, and having means for engaging and propelling cars along said track. a

20. In a car propelling apparatus, a revoluble boom having a vertical axis, a track encircling said axis, a device vertically movable on and adapted for travel with said boom, and a car on said track adapted for engagement with and propulsion by said device.

21. In a car propelling apparatus, a revoluble boom having a vertical axis, a track encircling said axis, a device vertically movable on and adapted for travel with said boom, and a car on said track and provided with a yielding bearing adapted for engagement with said device for the propulsion of the car thereby.

22. In a car propelling apparatus, a revoluble boom having a vertical axis and a vertical guide, and a car engaging and propelling device vertically movable in said guide.

23. In a car propelling apparatus, a revoluble boom having a vertical axis, a car engaging and propelling device vertically movable on and movable by said boom, and yielding means for limiting the downward movement of said device.

Qt. In a car propelling apparatus, a revoluble boom having a vertical axis, a helical support encircling said axis, and a car engaging and propelling device vertically movable on said boom and adapted for travel on said support.

25. In a car propelling apparatus, a revoluble boom having a vertical axis, a helical support encircling said axis, a car engaging and propelling device vertically movable relative to said boom and adapted for travel on said supportand movable downwardly by gravity when unsupported by said support, and yielding means for limiting the downward movement of said device.

26. In a car propelling apparatus, a revoluble boom having a vertical axis, and a car engaging and propelling device vertically movable relative to and adapted to be pro- In testimony whereof I have signed my pelled around Sdld. LX1S by sald boom. name to thls speclfieatlon m the presence of 10 27. In :1v car propellmg apparatus, a revotwo s'ubserlbmg wltnesses. luble boom havin 1 vertical axis 1 on en- 1 HORACE A. LOCIUVOOD.

5 gaging device vertically movable on said boom, and cushlomng means earned by the VVltnesses: boom for hmltmg the downward movement E. B. HOUSE, of sald devlce. R. E. HAlmL'roN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

